A method for making a polymer with a porous layer from a solid piece of polymer is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes heating a surface of a solid piece of polymer to a processing temperature and holding the processing temperature while displacing a porogen layer through the surface of the polymer to create a matrix layer of the solid polymer body comprising the polymer and the porogen layer. In at least one embodiment, the method also includes removing at least a portion of the layer of porogen from the matrix layer to create a porous layer of the solid piece of polymer.

A method for making a polymer with a porous layer from a solid piece of polymer is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes heating a surface of a solid piece of polymer to a processing temperature and holding the processing temperature while displacing a porogen layer through the surface of the polymer to create a matrix layer of the solid polymer body comprising the polymer and the porogen layer. In at least one embodiment, the method also includes removing at least a portion of the layer of porogen from the matrix layer to create a porous layer of the solid piece of polymer.

In general, in various embodiments, the present disclosure is directed systems and methods for producing a porous surface from a solid piece of polymer. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to systems that include a track assembly, mold assembly, press assembly, and methods for using the same for producing a porous surface from a solid piece of polymer. In some embodiments, the present systems and methods are directed to processing a polymer at a temperature below a melting point of the polymer to produce a solid piece of polymer with an integrated a porous surface.

Soft actuators are fabricated from materials that enable the actuators to be constructed with an open-celled architecture such as an interconnected network of pore elements. The movement of a soft actuator is controlled by manipulating the open-celled architecture, for example inflating/deflating select portions of the open-celled architecture using a substance such as compressed fluid.

Devices and methods for making a polymer with a porous layer from a solid piece of polymer are disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes heating a surface of a solid piece of polymer to a processing temperature and holding the processing temperature while displacing a porogen layer through the surface of the polymer to create a matrix layer of the solid polymer body comprising the polymer and the porogen layer. In at least one embodiment, the method also includes removing at least a portion of the layer of porogen from the matrix layer to create a porous layer of the solid piece of polymer.

Polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds having macropores interconnected with micorpores are provided. Tissue grafts that include the PCL scaffold having therapeutic cells encapsulated within the macropores are also provided. Also provided are methods of making the PCL scaffold and the tissue graft, and methods of transplanting cells into an individual using the tissue graft.

Polymer composite materials are disclosed containing one or more chemical scavengers. The polymer composites are porous and are configured to be contacted with a liquid for removing trace amounts of metals, proteins, polypeptides, polyphenols, other organic compounds, and the like. In order to produce the porous composite polymer product, one or more chemical scavengers are combined with high density polyethylene particles and sintered into a shape. The polyethylene resin acts as a binder trapping or encasing the one or more chemical scavengers in the porous structure.

The invention relates to the manufacturing of porous polymer membranes by (a) providing pellets comprising a polymer matrix and particles in the ratio 90:10 to 10:90, (b) converting said pellets into a non-porous film by a solvent-free process; (c) removing said particles from said film with an aqueous composition to thereby obtain said membrane. The invention further relates to pellets useful in such manufacturing process as well as porous polymer membranes obtainable or obtained by such manufacturing process as well as textile materials and articles containing such membranes; to the use of such pellets, membranes, and articles.

In general, in various embodiments, the present disclosure is directed systems and methods for producing a porous surface from a solid piece of polymer. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to a mold for processing a material. The mold includes a body having a top surface and a bottom surface. A void within the body is configured to receive a porogen and a piece of thermoplastic material. The void extends in a top to bottom direction to form a non-through cavity with a cavity surface that is substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the body. A protrusion on the body extends from the cavity surface towards the top surface. The void extends at least halfway through the body towards the bottom surface. A peg is disposed on the body and shaped to matingly engage a weight via a hole within the weight.

Devices and methods for making a polymer with a porous layer from a solid piece of polymer are disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes heating a surface of a solid piece of polymer to a processing temperature and holding the processing temperature while displacing a porogen layer through the surface of the polymer to create a matrix layer of the solid polymer body comprising the polymer and the porogen layer. In at least one embodiment, the method also includes removing at least a portion of the layer of porogen from the matrix layer to create a porous layer of the solid piece of polymer.